Nutritional Composition Comprising Indigestible Oligosaccharides

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and composition for the treatment and / or prevention of respiratory tract infection and / or respiratory tract infection disease, said method comprising orally administering a composition to a mammal, said composition comprising a galactose containing indigestible oligosaccharide and at least 5 wt. % digestible galactose saccharide.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention provides a method for the prevention and / or treatment of respiratory tract infections, said method comprising the administration of indigestible oligosaccharides.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The respiratory tract is a common site for infection by pathogens. It becomes infected frequently because it is in direct contact with the physical environment and is exposed to microorganisms in the air. There are several microorganisms that cause illness in infants.[0003]Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of serious lower respiratory tract disease in infants and children. Primary RSV infection occurs most often in children from 6 weeks to 2 years of age. RSV is estimated to cause as much as 75% of all childhood bronchiolitis and up to 40% of all pediatric pneumonias. Children at increased risk from RSV infection include preterm infants and children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, congenital or ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present method has the advantage that the active principle is safe and can be suitably admixed to nutrition. This leads to significantly reduced stress, particularly in infants. Hence, in one aspect, the present invention comprises the oral administration of a nutritional composition which reduces the occurrence of respiratory tract infection.

[0012]The present invention is particularly surprising because until now, it was believe that a low lactose content was essential for the prevention of respiratory disorder in infants. The present inventors found that administering a nutritional composition containing a transgalactooligosaccharide and rich in lactose is particularly effective preventing or treating respiratory infection.

[0013]The present inventors have found that both the galactose containing indigestible oligosaccharide and a digestible galactose saccharide are essential for optimal treatment and / or prevention of respiratory infection and / or respiratory infection disease. Moreover, particularly lactose contributes to a reduced occurrence of respiratory tract infection.

[0015]In a further aspect the present invention provides a method for the treatment and / or prevention of respiratory tract infection and respiratory tract infection disease, said method comprising administering a nutritional composition. Administration of the present active principle as a nutritional composition aims to reduce stress and more optimally reduces the occurrence of respiratory infections as said oligosaccharide works synergistically with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, the combination of choline and zinc, probiotics and / or prebiotics other than the galactose containing indigestible oligosaccharide. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the treatment and / or prevention of respiratory syncyticial virus infection, said method comprising administrating to an infant with the age between 0 and 2, a nutritional composition comprising an effective amount of transgalactooligosaccharides.

Problems solved by technology

Treatment options for established RSV disease are limited.

Parainfluenza viral infection results in serious respiratory tract disease in infants and children.

Treatment of respiratory infection is often difficult.

Only a few effective drugs are available and often treatment requires pulmonary administration of the drug.

In young infants this leads to significant stress.

Images